Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-11
How the New Rules Would Work In
the War Department.

To the Editor OF The EVENING STAR:
1t would seem to be almost unnecessary to add
anything to the expressions OF THE STAR to show
the mischief the new rules OF examination for pro
motion may eject Ill the Departments were 1t not
that said rules peculiarly Objectionable In the
very Department in which they are to be, at pres
ent exclusively applied, viz, the War Department
II Is not generally known that nlne-tenthS OF The
older clerks in that Department received their
training in military administration while In the
volunteer service in the field. In European armies
such employees form special corps, not subject to
1larly employed at nome. In ours more than
enough young men OF education could be found
for that purpose, and they filled all the positions
from company clerk to chief clerks at headQuar-
tiers OF large armies receiving the pittance OF $13
per month. The present able chief clerk OF the
War Department served thus, as private soldier,
rs chief clerk headquarters Army OF the Cumber-
land
From time to time the officers in charge Of the
bureau OF the Department selected such as they
thought most suitable, and ordered them to WASH
ingtOn and on the muster out OF the armies re-
tanned them IN service 6y securing their civilian
ever heard Of-was appointed by political or social
favor, or on any other grounds than tried fitness,
shown by their work on file In the Department.
Personally they were strangers. The writer per:
rectly remembers the indignation with which Mr..
Secretary Stanton protested against the removal
OF one OF these clerks, when called upon so to do
by An influential republican Member OF Congress,
on the ground that the clerk was q s'democrat, "
and that his place was wanted for a republican
II is needless to add that q clerk In q military
department should, If possible, possess a knOwl-
rarely possesses 1t. Our army is 80 small and
comes so little in contact with our people, that
even o muster-roll is rarely seen by one In ten
menC OF claims, involving millions, depend on q
thorough knowledge OF military rules regulations
laws ana s ta eo iS may Be
auently needy claimant receive speedy justice the
value OF corps OF clerks practically trained to
these duties can hardly be Overesttmated.
Now TO take the selection OF these clerks for
Eron,otion out Of the hands OF their immediate
superiors VINO, in this case, are officers in the
stricIest personal responsibility, being liable to
degradation, by court-martial, for maladministra-
body of men which, whatever its qualifcations may
be- cannot claim to know the men or their duties
as well rs the Officers under whom they served for
years must necessarily lead to mistakes II not
downright injury to the service.
Were the heads OF these bureaux politicians,
holding their offices subject to popular vote or
iayoritism and look around for q scheme to pre-
ventit. Or, II they had the appointment OF their
employees 1t might be feared. But no such charge
has been made against them, nor is it liable to Be
made In the matter OF promotion, since they hold
no political nor little, II any. social relation to
them.
The inducement even is wanting, and the per
sons Intimately concerned, the CLERKS themselves
would be the frst TO complain and ask for remedy,
which so far they have not. Where, then, Is the
necessity
In conclusion. venture TO cay that the old
clerks In the War Department ask nospecial favors
by reason OF their services in the held In return
for that service they have received an education
lifting them for the work they are doing accepta-
bly, though 1t did unit them for almost any other
employment. They have given their best years TO
that service and perfectly satisfied, II by
son OF failing mental or physical powers they be-
come unit for these duties TO vacate their 0ficea
They will even brush up and exhibit TO the board
OF examiners their arithmetic. geography, and
other scao.dsng Dy me a,a OF Wnacn snsy op a,t
they protest against having the practical work Of
their best years ignored set aside In IN enforced
scramble for q livelihood granted them In return
Tor duties honestly and satisfactoriiy performed
CIxRE.